188 Notice regarding the Ides of St Hilda. 
of the hut. The cattle are arranged along the walls in winter, 
and their dung, mixed with straw, together with the whole 
filth of the dwelling, allowed to accumulate from one spring 
season to another, being only removed when about to be applied 
as manure. 
The St Kildians are under the management of the tacks- 
man, or head farmer, who rents the island of the proprietor, 
and who imposes upon them the conditions necessary for ena- 
bling him to fulfil his own engagements. Their rent is always 
and entirely paid in kind ; feathers, grain, wool or coarse cloth, 
and oil, being the principal articles. The feathers are procured 
from the solan-geese and several of the smaller species : the 
havoc made among these birds for this purpose may be in some 
degree imagined. The oil is obtained from the fulmar, but is 
also partly prepared of the fat of other birds. It is of a clear 
amber colour, burns very brightly, with little smell, and is pre- 
served in the gullets of the solan-geese, prepared for that pur- 
pose by infusion and drying. The solan-geese breed only in 
Boreray ; and the natives are therefore obliged to make seve- 
ral visits to that island every season. It is needless to say, 
that they are all dexterous bird-catchers, and intrepid rock-men. 
For descending into the cliffs, they make use of a rope made of 
twisted thongs of cow-hide or of horse-hair, which they fasten 
above with a wooden peg. The solan-geese are always killed 
under night, and thrown from the cliff's next morning into 
the sea, where they are picked up by the boat. Accidents 
sometimes occur, and the unfortunate rock-man is precipitated 
from his giddy height, being generally killed before he reaches 
the sea, by dashing against the projecting edges of the cliffs. 
The tacksman, who resides in some of the Hebrides, makes 
two voyages annually, one in June, the other in August or Sep- 
tember. He carries to them the various articles that are most 
indispensable for their comfort, such as iron, spades, wood, 
sickles, handkerchiefs, hats, &c., and receives in return oil, mut- 
ton, cheese, butter, wool and coarse cloth. Of tobacco and 
spirits they are very fond, but their inclination is Seldom much 
indulged in that way. 
The St Kildians have hitherto had a clergyman resident 
among them, whose duty was also to act as schoolmaster. In 
